“Now it came to pass on a certain day, that he went into a ship with his disciples: and he said unto them, Let us go over unto the other side of the lake. And they launched forth. But as they sailed he fell asleep: and there came down a storm of wind on the lake; and they were filled with water, and were in jeopardy. And they came to him, and awoke him, saying, Master, master, we perish. Then he arose, and rebuked the wind and the raging of the water: and they ceased, and there was a calm. And he said unto them, Where is your faith? And they being afraid wondered, saying one to another, What manner of man is this! for he commandeth even the winds and water, and they obey him.”
Luke 8:22-25
Ever hear of James Spann? Around here, he is a well-known meteorologist and speaker who is best known for the phrase “respect the polygon.” It’s a reference to the boxes representing storms on the radar maps, especially regarding tornadoes. His goal is to warn the viewers of approaching storms so that they can take precautions. He advocates having an emergency plan in place in case of storms, such as having a safe place identified beforehand with all the necessary items like a weather radio.
Spiritually speaking, it’s a given that we are going to go through storms in life. Sometimes we can see them coming from a long way off, but at other times, they can take us completely by surprise. We need to have our own emergency plan for spiritual storms before the overtake us, and I think James Spann may just have the right idea for those as well.
Respect the Polygon
The lines are fallen unto me in pleasant places; yea, I have a goodly heritage.
Psalm 16:6
Many people argue that they need freedom to choose whatever they want, no boundaries. Yet, the thing children actually crave is set boundaries because it gives them a feeling of security. The same is true of storm warnings; we want to know where the storm is located, how to avoid it if possible, and where it is going. When you are in the polygon, you should go to your safe place. You respect the polygon for your own protection.
God also gives us spiritual boundaries for our own protection. Priscilla Shirer in her Bible study on The Armor of God, explains the use of the belt in Roman armor. When you put it on, it helps support your core muscles while taking some of the weight of the other parts of the armor. Our belt is the belt of truth, and the truth will set you free (John 8:32). When we gird ourselves with the truths of God’s word, it sets boundaries, but in doing so also frees us. God’s boundaries are pleasant. They bind the things that will trip us so that we can move more easily as we battle the enemy.
Shelter in Place
Wherefore also it is contained in the scripture, Behold, I lay in Zion a chief corner stone, elect, precious: and he that believeth on him shall not be confounded.
1 Peter 2:6
A storm shelter is a building or part of a building that was created to withstand the winds of storms. It is anchored to the ground, sometimes even under the ground. We have been told time and again to avoid cars and mobile homes during tornadoes because they are not grounded and can easily be taken up in the storm.
In Matthew chapter 7, Jesus told the parable of the house built on the rock versus the house built on sand. The house built on the rock will withstand because it is grounded, while the house on sand will wash away. We need to be grounded in the Word of God as well as our position of salvation through Christ the rock. Then we have an anchor that holds no matter what comes our way.
Wear a Helmet
And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God
Ephesians 6:17
Finally, put on a helmet. During a tornado, most injuries are caused by falling debris, which are especially dangerous for your head. Putting on a helmet and good shoes will protect two of the most endangered areas of your body during a tornado: your feet and your head. Tornadoes often happen after dark, and if the power goes out, you can’t see potential dangers, like broken glass. Both the helmet and the shoes continue to protect you as you navigate to safety.
The enemy also attacks our heads first with his lies. When we are grounded in the Word of God, we can detect the lies and counterattack with the truth. Our feet are guarded with the Gospel of peace so that we can keep our footing in any situation. When we remember that we were adopted as children of God, we know that Our Father is with us through the storm. When Jesus told the disciples to set out in the boat, he knew the storm was coming, and he sent them anyway. Yet, he also came with them on the boat. When we keep our focus on Jesus, then we can have peace even in the midst of the storm.
I like reading your yarn. This is one the best. May God continue bless you and enlarge your coast in the name of Jesus Christ.